Owned by the City of New York, the High Line is a public park maintained, operated, and programmed by Friends of the High Line, in partnership with the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation.

Halloween on the High Line

By Clay GrableNovember 15, 2013

10th Avenue Square was transformed into a pumpkin patch, presided over by Princess Neftaly Garcia, High Line Education Leader (right). Photos by Rowa Lee

On Saturday, October 26, 2,500 kids and adults joined us for the third-annual Haunted High Line Halloween celebration. Families came in costume to enjoy art activities, music, and “real” High Line ghosts stationed from Little West 12th to 17th Streets. The celebration drew on the spooky history of Manhattan’s west side, where dark factories loomed and dangerous freight trains ruled “Death Avenue.”

No costume? No problem! High Line Teen Amanda Feliciano painted kitties, heroes, and ghouls at the face-painting table. Photo by Rowa Lee

Student of SVA’s Interior Design program created a haunted train tunnel, where abandoned train cars held clues about the history of 10th Avenue, known as Death Avenue before the High Line was built. Photo by Rowa Lee

Inside the spidery train cars, families found “artifacts” from the early 1900s, when dangerous freight trains ran on street level. Top left: Clothing from Seth Hascamp, a little boy who was hurt by the street-level trains, Bottom left: The West Side Cowboy waved a red flag to warn passersby when trains were coming. Right: This 1909 New York Times article chronicled a child-led protest against the dangerous street-level trains. Protests like these ultimately led to the creation of the High Line. Photos by Rowa Lee

High Line Food vendor La Newyorkina served up delicious Halloween-themed treats. Photo by Juan Valentin

When parents and children match costumes, everyone wins. Photos by Rowa Lee

Local children from P.S. 3, P.S. 11, and the Hudson Guild drew from to the High Line’s spooky past to create the third-annual High Line Ghost Train, a steam locomotive from Death Avenue that haunts the High Line on Halloween. Photo by Rowa Lee

All along the High Line, ghosts from the High Line’s past doled out history riddles and treats to kids. Clockwise: Frozen Cold Storage Worker, Mad Inventor Nabisco Baker, West Side Cowboy, Deranged Meatpacker. Thank you to Parson’s fashion design student Eva Miner for the fabulous makeup and styling! Photos by Rowa Lee

Success! This princess and prince solved a riddle and earned a sweet reward. Photo by Rowa Lee

Kids found the West Side Cowboy near a maze of hay at the southern end of the park. Photo by Rowa Lee

High Line Educators Gahl Shottan and Karen Lew Biney-Amissah wowed us with their creative costumes. Gahl, left, is dressed as a butterfly, and Karen dressed as the High Line itself! Photo by Friends of the High Line

Happy Halloween from Friends of the High Line! Left to right: High Line Volunteers William Isabella and Brendan Baitch, Deputy Director of Programs and Education Emily Pinkowitz, High Line Teen Isaiah Awoshiley, Director of Public Programs, Education & Community Engagement Gonzalo Casals, and High Line Volunteer Maria Padavano. Photo by Rowa Lee

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Friends of the High Line raises 98% of the High Line’s annual budget.
Owned by the City of New York, the High Line is a public park maintained, operated, and programmed by Friends of the High Line, in partnership with the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation.